week three | dates

[marriagebroker]

Here we go again.

You all better kiss.

Comments

[phenomerom]

Mmm?

[ A little tilt of the head, playing at being curious. ]

I didn't think you'd be such a sore loser, Edamura-san. It's pretty embarrassing if you're refusing to admit defeat like that, and with a game you chose, even ...

1/2

[ordimame]

[god sometimes this guy makes it easy for bean to open up and be honest with himself for a change, and SOMETIMES bean just wants to KICK HIS ASS!! this whiplash!!]

[now is one of those latter times]

. . . you really want secrets that badly?

[jabs!! a finger at him!!]

Then try to keep up.

[ordimame]

[which is. . . all the warning Rom gets before Edamura just. turns towards the cameramen. gives them a wink]

[and then bolts, ducking and weaving his way through the nearby arcade machines! he is not particularly athletic, so it isn't too hard to keep up with him physically. . . but the cameramen are so shocked at his sudden departure and need to take a moment together up their equipment that keeping track of where he is going maaaaaay be a little harder]

[phenomerom]

Ah --

[ Oh. He -- admittedly hadn't anticipated that. Maybe he'd gone a bit too far with his prodding? And while he actually doesn't care too much about a silly game proposed on a whim ...

... well, the spirits he'd noticed haunting the place hadn't seemed too harmful at first glance. Hopefully there won't be any problem if he's a few seconds late to catch up to Edamura if he runs into one.

He'd briefly just been standing in place, blinking in mild surprise, but Rom goes trotting after his 'target' after a moment, deliberately weaving in between the rows of machines to lose the cameramen and catch up a little more efficiently. For his lav mic: ]

Haha, to think you'd be pulling a cheap stunt like this, Edamura-san ...

[ordimame]

[with their clunky machinery in tow, the poor crew stands no chance in keeping up with either contestant. and by the time Rom finally catches up, Edamura has tucked himself away into the corner of the arcade's prize shop, hidden behind a few aisles of random stuffed toys. he leans against one of the shelves, his own lav mic dangling uselessly in his hand, the cords swaying freely in the air]

[he knows they'll only have a few minutes of "off-air" time before they're found, but. . . well. that'll be enough, he thinks]

Sorry about that. [not sorry at all] I just don't like talking in front of the cameras.

I'm a little shy, you see.

[phenomerom]

[ For as puzzled as he is about Edamura's chosen path of action, at least Rom's as quick on the uptake as ever. As he slips around a row of machines to make his way to the little corner Edamura's tucked himself into, he unplugs his own mic as soon as he spots Edamura's with wires dangling free.

Sure, this works just as well. ]

Oh? I didn't take you to be the type to have such stage fright.

[ Said as he. Casually sidles his way riiiiight into the little hiding spot they're now sharing, a hand rising to touch against Edamura's shoulder as he shifts closer. ]

Now, if you'd please hold still for just a moment.

[ordimame]

[-- ?!]

Huh?

[half-instinct, half-obliging Rom's request, Edamura freezes in place when that hand touches his shoulder, his confident features melting into open bemusement. and then open worry]

-- it's not a spirit, is it??

[DID HE CHOOSE A HIDING PLACE WITH A SPIRIT?????]

[phenomerom]

[ He'd been fishing his other hand through the pocket of his jacket, but Rom pauses in that endeavor for a moment upon Edamura's words. Looks at him for a moment.

Then smiles. ]

If I recall, you wanted to think there aren't any spirits around that you'd need to worry about? So what's gotten you so concerned?

[ hehehe ]

[ordimame]

[resisting temptation to shove a hand into Rom's face. . .]

T-- the fact that you're looking at me like that, for one. . .!

[and sliding in so close?? hand on his shoulder?? Edamura does, in fact, want to think that there aren't any spirits around he needs to worry about. but at the same time, if there is one, he would probably also prefer Rom to take care of it??]

1/2

[phenomerom]

Hmm? This is just how I usually look.

[ Leaning in. Just a little closer. Looming riiiiiight over him.

Hand at Edamura's shoulder squeezing a little tighter to keep him in place while his other hand slowly rises before Edamura's face. ]

Though I wasn't aware you were paying such close attention to me, Edamura-san~?

[ That sing-song cadence is followed by sudden movement -- ]

[phenomerom]

[ -- Rom unraveling an omamori amulet on a corded string from his raised hand, smoothly slipping the string over Edamura's head so it hangs at his collar like a necklace. In the same movement, he tucks it under the front of Edamura's shirt so it'll go unseen, fingertips there and gone in an instant.

The hand at his shoulder withdraws, too. ]

It's just that if anyone else saw me giving you a freebie, they'd want one, too. Please just keep that on until we leave the premises.

1/3 AAAH I'M SORRY

[ordimame]

[






eh?? eh???]

[ordimame]

[. . . he's not paying that much attention! just a normal amount of attention!! it's completely normal to watch someone closely when they're this deep into your personal space, isn't it?? it's not weird. don't make it weird!!]

[though. . . for some strange reason, Edamura can feel his heart suddenly fluttering rapidly in his ears the closer Rom gets. it must be the presence of those spirits, right? the ones he can't see? the ones he would prefer to pretend aren't here? they've got to be making him nervous. they're probably the reason why his cheeks feel hot, too. instinct is telling him to lean back, but his body doesn't move, as though frozen in place]

Wh--

[ordimame]

[-- and just like that, an omamori is slipped on over his head and tucked dutifully into the folds of his shirt. the looming presence draws back, and Edamura is left blinking, staring with features slack, brows knitted, mouth slightly parted]

[?????

[(why is his heart still beating so fast?)]

[. . . either way, after the moment of bemusement passes, he lifts a hand to lay his palm against his chest, right over where the omamori sits hidden underneath a layer of clothing. there's a part of him-- the loud, defensive, high strung part-- that wants to shove a hand into Rom's face. payback for startling him so much! but another part of him-- the part that can now appreciate how important a gesture this is after their conversation the other night-- . . . really doesn't]

[that's the part that wins out]

Oh.

[. . . . . ]

[wait. he can't just say "oh" and leave it there]

. . . t-- thanks.

[awkward and confused, but genuine??]

eats all of these cute edamame faces 1/2

[phenomerom]

[ -- did he push that a little too far?

He'd been expecting another shove to the face -- starting to acclimate to the general rhythm of Edamura's reactions by this point -- and so the omission feels notable. And while the eventual 'thanks' does mitigate the feeling that he's properly overstepped some line ... ]

[phenomerom]

... no need to worry, Edamura-san! [ Rom takes a half-step back, putting a little more proper distance between them. -- or, well, as much as he can in this cramped little spot. ] I double-checked on the way here. While there do appear to be a few spirits haunting this place, they're largely just garden-variety ghosts. Nothing too notable.

[ Yes. This feels correct. The more usual distance he keeps from people. This should fix any mistakes he's made. And just to hammer it home -- ]

Nothing that one of my custom-made amulets can't handle at any rate! Do note that those are usually 6,000 yen a piece, but for you and other participants in this game, I can apply a special half-price discount, so please just let me know if you're interested.

[ordimame]

[oh my god]

[and just like that, the urge to shove Rom's face into a locker returns]

. . . I'm not paying 6,000 yen on top of whatever you're charging me for your pep talks!!

[wasn't he listening? Rom said he would give a half-price discount. it's 3,000 yen!]

Sleazy salesman.

[. . . he's keeping the omamori when they leave]

[phenomerom]

No, no -- only 3,000 yen! It's absolutely a steal, you know.

[ A low laugh before he starts sidling out of their hiding spot. Give Edamura a little more breathing room ... ]

And do keep in mind that I'll be adding that to your invoice if you let it slip that I gave you a free sample, yes? I still have a business to run, after all, and it wouldn't do to undermine my own prices on television. This'll just be a special one-time offer for you, given the circumstances.

1/2

[ordimame]

[AN EXASPERATED SIGH. . . and before Rom can leave, Edamura snags him by the collar and drags him right back. don't cue the cameramen in on their location when he hasn't even talked secrets, yet!!]

You're a real headache, you know that?

[a pause]

[ordimame]

[and then, suddenly more seriously]

But I'll keep your secret if you keep mine.

[phenomerom]

[ Wah ... as has consistently been the case so far, he just lets himself get dragged back with zero resistance. Initially curious about why they're staying crammed in this little nook before he connects the dots. ]

Oh?

[ Surprising. He hadn't expected Edamura to actually indulge him in that silly wager. Rom gives a low laugh -- vaguely ominous, because it always is when he laughs -- before leaning in, head tilted to better angle his ear in Edamura's direction. Ready for this secret just between them. ]

Of course. Your secret's safe with me.

[ordimame]

[it helps that he was teetering on the edge of telling Rom the other night. one might as well spill the entirety of his soul while indulging in a moment of emotional vulnerability, right. . .? but a few other things have solidified his decision, including Wei Wuxian's words from the previous week's interview. those have been bouncing around in his head for a while now]

[. . . what he has to offer. . . with all of his hurt attached, huh. . .?]

[a sharp exhale]

You know the "freelancer" thing is a lie, right?

It is just as obvious as I think it is. Right??

[did he truly sell it that well??]

[phenomerom]

Aah, that.

[ A smile. ]

I don't know if it's obvious. But I had my suspicions.

[ Which isn't untrue, of course. But it won't devalue the fact that Edamura's confessing it himself -- there's always a difference between an inferred secret, and one that's being voluntarily laid bare. ]

[ordimame]

[. . . for some reason, that makes him feel better. to know that someone here had an inkling, even if they mostly took him at face value]

It's true that I take on odd jobs as I please. But it's usually for a reason.

[folding his arms, leaning his back against the wall, flicking his gaze towards the end of the aisle as though making sure the cameramen don't reappear at the worst possible moment]

. . . because I'm a confidence man.

So whatever job needs doing for the sake of a scheme, I'll do it.

1/2

[phenomerom]

[ Rom, meanwhile, is entirely focused on Edamura. The confession only earns a blink and a slight tilt of the head first, as he processes it. It's quiet when he repeats, ]

... a confidence man.

[ A soft exhale. ]

You're a scam artist.

[ Another little stretch of silence as he seems to let that fact sink in, his expression an otherwise unreadable neutral. ]